Janet T. Neff
Janet T. Neff | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan | |
| Assumed office March 1, 2021 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan | |
| In office August 6, 2007 – March 1, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | David McKeague |
| Succeeded by | Jane M. Beckering |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Janet Theresa Nebiolo April 8, 1945[1] Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | University of Pittsburgh (BA) Wayne State University Law School (JD) |
Janet Theresa Neff (born April 8, 1945) is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Early life and education[]
Born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Neff graduated from University of Pittsburgh with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 and later from Wayne State University Law School with a Juris Doctor in 1970.
Legal career[]
Following law school graduation, Neff was an assistant city attorney for the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 1971 to 1973. She was in private practice in Michigan from 1973 to 1978 and from 1980 to 1988. She was a Commissioner, Michigan Supreme Court from 1978 to 1980. She became an Assistant United States Attorney of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan in 1980. She was a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1989 to 2007.[2]
Federal judicial career[]
Neff was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan by President George W. Bush on March 19, 2007 to a seat vacated by David McKeague.[2] Despite the blocking of her confirmation vote by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas because she had attended a same-sex commitment ceremony, Neff was confirmed by a vote of 84 to 3 by the Senate on July 9, 2007. She received her commission on August 6, 2007.[3] She assumed senior status on March 1, 2021. She has generated controversy over her stance over a federal gun control issue caused by Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma over his comments that he "will not abide by or enforce federal law which he determines to be unconstitutional".[4]
Notable cases[]
In 2017, Judge Neff sentenced serial sexual predator and former United States Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to 60 years in federal prison.[5]
In September 2019, Neff sentenced child sex trafficker Ricardo Urbina to 40 years in prison.[6]
On June 29, 2020, Neff ruled that Michigan's independent re-districting commission is constitutional, in a blow to the state GOP.[7]
On December 2, 2020, Neff declined to sanction the Trump campaign over an alleged disinformation tactic.[8]
In January 2021, Neff dismissed a lawsuit brought by 10 former Michigan officials who sought to overturn term limits for state offices.[9]
Sources[]
- Janet T. Neff at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
References[]
- ^ Chardavoyne, David Gardner; Jr, Hugh W. Brenneman (October 6, 2020). "A Lincoln Legacy: The History of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan". Wayne State University Press – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Neff, Janet T." Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ Senate rejects Brownback's concerns about judge, Reuters, July 9, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Loman, Amanda (2013-02-01). "Letters to the editor: U.S. District Judge Neff questions sheriff's stand on federal gun proposals". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
- ^ ESPN, DAN MURPHY via (2017-12-07). "Larry Nassar receives maximum 60-year sentence from federal judge". ABC News. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
- ^ https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2019_0923_Urbina September 23, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/federal-judge-dismisses-gop-case-against-michigan-redistricting-commission July 6, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-12-02/us-judge-declines-to-sanction-trump-campaign-over-alleged-disinformation-tactic December 2, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/22/federal-judge-rejects-suit-seeking-overturn-term-limits/6669976002/ January 22, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- 1945 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American judges
- 21st-century American women
- 21st-century women judges
- American women judges
- Assistant United States Attorneys
- Judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- Michigan Court of Appeals judges
- People from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
- United States district court judges appointed by George W. Bush
- University of Pittsburgh alumni
- Wayne State University alumni